- Manchester City returns to the Santiago Bernabéu to face Real Madrid
- Jude Bellingham will have to give his best against Pep Guardiola’s team
- Have Liverpool been mentally torpedoed by Man United? Listen to the Podcast Everything is beginning
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Manchester City’s quest for an unthinkable second consecutive treble faces its biggest challenge yet as Real Madrid attempt to derail Pep Guardiola’s lofty ambitions.
On Tuesday night, City travel to the Santiago Bernabeu for the third consecutive season, with the English visitors drawing their last year on their way to their first Champions League title.
Meanwhile, the competition’s record holder will be determined to avenge their previous semi-final defeat and will be boosted by the involvement of LaLiga’s top scorer Jude Bellingham, who has been a star since moving to the Spanish capital last summer .
City face a defensive crisis and Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake are unlikely to be included due to injuries for the daunting trip to Madrid.
Mail Sport’s Chris Sutton guides the rule on the three battles that can make or break the tie.
Manchester City’s quest to achieve an unthinkable second consecutive treble faces its biggest challenge yet.
Real Madrid seeks to avenge its previous semi-final defeat against Manchester City last season
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VINICIUS JUNIOR vs RICO LEWIS
In the absence of the injured Kyle Walker, Lewis faces the toughest test of his career as a substitute right-back.
The 19-year-old is calm and collected on the ball, and we may see him take up reversed positions at times in line with Pep Guardiola’s philosophy, but Lewis will be tested to his defensive limits against one of football’s deadliest dribblers. .
Rico Lewis faces the toughest test of his career as Man City’s reserve right-back
Kyle Walker fought an entertaining battle against Vinicius Jr. in last season’s competition
Those one-on-ones will be crucial at the Bernabéu on Tuesday. It was a nice goal that Vinicius scored in Real Madrid’s final Champions League match against RB Leipzig, assisted by Jude Bellingham as he dived in from the left.
JUDE BELLINGHAM vs RODRI
If Real Madrid are to somehow prevent City from reaching their fourth consecutive Champions League semi-finals, they will have to end Rodri’s 65-game unbeaten streak.
It is no coincidence that in the four games that City have lost in all competitions this season he is absent in all of them. Rodri can start an attack, but he is the best to stop them and now he will need to tie up the game’s golden boy.
If Real Madrid are to stop City, they will have to end Rodri’s 65-game unbeaten streak, while the visitors must be wary of the threat of Jude Bellingham.
The mature Bellingham has 20 goals this season and I suspect we’ll see some physical fights between him and Rodri.
ANTONIO RUDIGER vs ERLING HAALAND
Rudiger loves physical battles as much as any centre-back I’ve ever seen. I’m sure he’ll take it as a compliment, because he’s one of those tough defenders who prides himself on doing the dirty work.
City superstar forward Erling Haaland should expect an all-out fight at the Santiago Bernabeu
The tackles. The blocks. The fights. Haaland should expect an all-out fight from Rudiger and the City striker must be willing to give his best.
It would be an ideal moment for a great performance from Haaland amid the scrutiny on him since that silent game he suffered against Arsenal.
